Evaporation plant



Fil'ed May 2o, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 3, 1940. A KELTNER v 2,223,488

EVAPORATION PLANT Filed May 20, 1938 2l Sheets-Sheet 2 was Leajfelzef;

www#

-Baenteanea 3,1940 I ,n 2,223,488

i UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE l v A 2,223,488 t EVAPORATION PLANT AmosLca Keltner, Hutchinson, Kans. Application May 20, 1938, Serial No. 209,113

' s claims. ((11.159-5) 'An object of the invention is to provide an and its other end connected to a circulating pump evaporation plant for the disposal of salt water in I'I. t

vwhich the brine supply is preheated and sprayed The residue pit 9 is preferably constructed of over a plurality of heated evaporating surfaces to concrete, extending downwardly into the ground, flash the liquid into vapor and leave a salt residue and includes a cylindrical wall I8 and a plurality' 5 on the evaporation surfaces. of spaced, radially disposed reinforcing ribs I9. Another object is to provide an evaporating A columnv20 is disposed centrally within the pit plant of the character referred to in combination and has its upper end level with the rim of the with means for condensing the ashed vapor to i ypit. A skeleton framework 2l includingV a plu- 10 recover salt-free water. rality of radially extending arms 22 is mountedl 10 'Another object is to provide an evaporating across the pit and has its center supported by 'plant ofy the character stated which is efficient, the column 2U. A plurality of hollow evaporatr simple in construction, and economical to manuy, ing cones 23, preferably cast iron, is mounted re- "fa'cture and operate. lspectively at substantially the mid point of each Another object is to provide a method of treatradial arm 22,-and each cone is comprised of a' 15 ing salt solutions'to dispose of the salt content frustro-conical base 24 and a plurality of supertherein, and either pass the liquid content into imposed successively smaller hollow frustroconithe airgin the form of vapor, or condense such cal sections 24a stacked thereon and terminating vapor into salt-free water. in a relatively small conical section 25. Each of 2O Other Lobjects will' become apparent from a the'sections 24, 21|a and 25 is provided with a cir-v 20 reading of the following description, the apcumferential flange 26 and spaced upstanding pended claims, and the accompanying drawings, lugs 2l located adjacent the top of each section in which: for retaining adjacent sections in axial align- Figure 1 isa 'front elevation, partly in section,v ment. of an evaporation plant constructed in accordvA heating element 28 is mounted under each 325 ance with` my invention; y cone 23 and is connected to argas' supply pipe 29 FigureZisatop plan viewthereof; through a cut-off valve 30, the Apipe being dis- Figure 3 is an enlarged detail elevation, partly posed around the periphery of the residue pit and in section, of an evaporating cone; connected to a source of gas supply 3|. The

30 Figure 4 vis a top plan View thereof; evaporating cones and heating elements described `30 Figure 5 is a reduced elevation of a condensing above comprise the evaporating surface assemvcover; v bly 8.

Figure 6 is a top plan view thereof; and v The spray head l includes a skeleton structure Figure 7 is a'front elevation showing the cover formed of pipe comprising a'plurality of radially as disposed over the evaporating cones. extending arms 32 disposed overthe cones 23 and 35 Referring to the drawings in detail, my inventerminating in downwardly extending legs 33 setion is shown vas embodied in a liquid evaporating cured to the rim of the residue pit. An atomizing plant 'including a storage tank 5, a liquid preor spray nozzle 34 islocated at substantially the heater 6, a spray head 1, 'an evaporator assembly midpoint of each arm 32 and is directed towards 40 8, a residue pit' or catch receptacle 9, and a conthe cone 23 therebelow. A supply pipe 35 has one 40 densing cover Il).v l end engaged in a T coupling in one of the legs 33 The storage tank is mounted on the ground and and its other end connected to the discharge side is provided at its lower end with a brine pipe II of the pump I1. for. vsupplying brine ,from an oil "well or other In operation, brine is pumped from the well source, The pm heater is disposed .to one side 01 into the storage tank, where it is heated to about 45 the storage tank and is provided with a, heating 80-85 F. by the pre-heater. The pre-heated coil I2 having spaced upper and lower ends I4, I5 brine is pumped into the spray head 1 and extending into the storage tank. A heating elethrough the nozzles 34 which atomize the brine ment I6 is disposed directly under the coil and is and direct the spray onto the evaporating cones supplied, preferably, with natural fuel gas from i 23 which are heated to a red heat.` This causes 50 the oil well. The liquid in the storage tank is the liquid particles to flash into vapor, leaving a heated to approximately 80-85 F. and is circuresidue of solid salts on the cones. 'I'he salt lated by the convection currents set up by the residue accumulates on the cones, from whence it heating. A discharge pipe I6 has one of its ends falls into the residue pit.

extending into the lower end of the storage tank Should it be desired to wash the cones 23, wash 55 ,45 like.

liquid is supplied to the residue pit so that it can be pumped into the storage tank throughthe medium of a pipe 36 having one end extending .into and near the bottom of the residue pit, and 5 having its other end connected to a small pump 3l which in Aturn vdischarges into the storage tank over which said evaporating element issusthrough a pipe 38. From the storage'tank, such wash liquid is supplied under the action of pump H: to the sprayers 34 which discharge the same 10 onto thecones..

rfa .is foundlde'siriable to .usefthe sait-free vapors for lboilers or for other purposes, the conl denser I0 is positioned above the evaporatingssembly and residue pit. As shown in Figur'e"',' 15 the condensing cover i0 is mounted Ontanliards 39, and is located directly over the evaporating f ments, nozzles carried by the framework of pipe,

assembly, being spaced from the evaporato'rsto provide for atmospheric cooling ofythe'cover. j In r' the form shown, the cover comprisesa conical structure including a plurality of radially extend# ing sections.4.,.a conicalpeak 4i,.and:a circumferential liquid-collecting gutter Y12. Each sectionil comprises a Ypair of slanting-facesAS-QS joined along their loweredges. as at 44, and joined ,'25 1 tothe adjacent section onV either s ide along the eclges-.45-45. A yV-shaped notch 4.6 is `cut into eachjsectionfat the *outer end -of=the joined Vedge .64. A drip-,catching trough 41 is disposed-under each joinedgedge, M, :andhas its lower end disposed f over the circumferential :collecting -`gutter i2.to'wliiclrisY connecteda discharge, pipe B3' x When the coverii! jisinoperationnlhe vapors contact vthe under surfaces; of .theyseetionsfland are condensed. The condensed ;dro.ps r of( lfiopiid'l .as gravitate to. the;@messages-44 fromwhicn they .drip-intothe troughs 4I land lflowfdowntl- 1e troughs intotlie vgutter ,42. isefected by tithe-normal atmospheric currents passing over -and aroundit. l 0 '.lt Willflce seenlthat I have,prov ide d yabrine evaporatingplant, f or-usefprimarily withoil ells, awhich eiectivelydisposes ofthe brine andVv which issimple in construction. Itmay also be used .for obtaining salt-free water for use in boilers or. tlie .The apparatus; .andgmethcddisclosedherein Kfare illustrative. oftlie .inventionfin its at presenti,.pre-V ;ferred form, 'but v arious .changes maybe made .without departing v from the ,inventiong aswdeiined .ICLQLHIIv .1 1. In an evaporating plant, a spray head, a hollow vertically attenuatedfconical evaporating velernent-belovitr d n.linejwithsaidhead heat- 55 -ng,.means,forgsaid evaporatinglementr o1 that ceptacleI havingy an ,opentop of greater; areathan the base of rsaid vaporating element-over which .said evaporating element is suspendedrgsofthat solidson thelfext'erior of the evaporatingelement mayv be collected: in the receptacle thrligh :.sa'id open top. .l

2. In an evaporating plant, spray.liead, a hollow verticallyattenuated conical .evaporating Cooling... of thecover spnayingf material4 to be evaporated, into 'the at? j element to receive tliegdlscharge from saidf lead `v comprising a plurality of successively smaller hollow frusto-conical sections and terminating at its apex in a hollow conical section, said sections ing element, said receptacle having an open top pended.

3. An evaporating plant having a receptacle open at the top for reception of solid matter, a 10 plurality vof vertically attenuated-evaporating elementsin spaced apart relation, heating means for VF. theevaporating elements, an open-work structure f *suspending said elements over the open top of the receptacle, a skeleton framework of pipe on said 15f str ucture extending over the said evaporating elefone nozzle vfor-each evaporating element being disposed to .discharge matter onto the adjacent element =-below it, whereby liquid inl said matter 20 will-be evaporatedandsolids may be. collected in the lreceptacle through said open top.

...4. evaporating .plant ncludingia receptacle openat .thetop for reception of solids, Qa' `plufor said elements, a ,structure mounted .onthe top of said `.receptacle including ...a pluraltyf f suspended thereby over said-,opentopf theJceD-BO skeletonfframework .of pipe mounted overSfld evaporating elements, v.and a .plurality of radially extending pipes each of which is .provided with an atomizing nozzle d isposed. to.discharge, onto the 35 adjacent evaporatingelement. i.

5. In yan evaporating..plant '..fspray heaiijior mosphere, a heated evaporatinglv surtace Vfor. ,con-

. tact` by said .sprayed material, to therebyc'causeo ..all liquid of .thespray .toilash into ..vapor,. .a.re'cep ,.tacl over which. said surface .is suspended, said lreceptacle being'open at the top to colle'ct, sol id ,matter fromsaidsurface, .and.a..covermou'nted l, over vthe evaporating surface and. sprayheaid "and, ,45

spaced therefrom to condense '..th'e '.ilallOILSaidw cover being .alined-.with .and .of .Lanfareacoexten- 6. An evapolff e,plant.includingare'ieptacle for solids open .at .t`n'e..top,4 ,a ,supporting.structure.-50

mounted above [said receptacle, a ,plurality of evaporating elements suspendedby said `structllre over saidppentop in spaced apart relation,,-each .of saidI elementsrcomprising: a. hollow frustaconi` cal base vanilla ,plurality ,o successively smaller ,55

hollow `frustofconic'al sections ,stacked onfsaid vstructure comprising '..askeleton framework ,ofmn

pipe mounted over said evaporatingeleinents;and: a pluralityof .nozzles disposed to fdirect matter 1 uponsagidelements respectively. 

